I Just Kept On Smiling By Simon Burt

“I Just Kept On Smiling” By Simon Burt

PRE-READING Quick Write: Choose one prompt to respond to in your journal. • What are some reasons (other than need) why people might steal things? • Have you ever willingly taken the blame for something you didn’t do? Why did you do it? How did you feel? What happened as result?

VOCABULARY Write down the following words. - redeem - crescent - converted - misguided - charade As you see them in the story, determine their meaning based on the context. Be ready to share!

FIRST READING Directions 1. LISTEN to the text as you follow along in your book. 2. Place a post-it in your book where you have a question. Write your question on your post-it. Be ready to share out.

NEXT: CATEGORIZE YOUR QUESTIONS! Independently, go back to your post-it questions. Code your questions as follows: F= Factual B=Background E=Evaluative S=Speculative I=Interpretive USE YOUR BOOK OR YOUR NOTES IF YOU NEED A REFRESHER ON THESE QUESTION TYPES!

SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS! RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE A _________ QUESTION. SHARE IT!

WRITE! 1. The question I asked that interests me the most is… 2. The question someone else asked that interests me the most is…

SECOND READING While re-reading the text, use the different-colored sticky notes to identify the following: • COLOR #1= You understand the narrator’s behavior. • COLOR #2 = You do not understand the narrator’s behavior. When finished, be prepared to share a brief description of that plot event and the page #

SHARED INQUIRY DISCUSSION: Write. Then discuss! 1. 2. FOCUS QUESTIONS : Why does the narrator steal the exercise books? Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?

Questions 1. Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books? 2. Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot? ” (p. 109) 3. Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away? 4. After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret? ” (p. 109)

Questions 5. What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice? ” (p. 103) 6. Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver? 7. Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in? 8. Why does the narrator think Nicky “had stolen [his] secret? ” (p. 111)